LABOUR 201 



work and climatic conditions entailed by forestry 

 operations. This plea was true at the time. It is a 

 question now, however, whether large planting schemes, 

 if well thought out and prepared beforehand by a 

 central organisation, could not be put into force at the 

 conclusion of the war. Every soldier now has to 

 learn to handle the spade and pick in trench work ; 

 and large numbers of young men who will have been 

 hardened to exposure will at the same time have been 

 imbued with a liking for outdoor life. At least, it 

 seems probable that after the war they will be rather 

 unsettled for a sedentary life in the cities. Many will 

 emigrate unless they can find congenial occupation in 

 this country. Numbers might be induced to take to 

 forest work, and planting on a large scale could be 

 undertaken. 



A unique opportunity lies within our grasp. Is 

 it going to be let slip ? 



